Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)

The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), is a U.S. federal law that allowed states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed under the laws of other states and which restricted federal marriage benefits. The law passed both houses of Congress by large majorities and was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on September 21, 1996. Section 3 of DOMA had codified the non-recognition of same-sex marriages for all federal purposes, including insurance benefits for government employees, Social Security survivors’ benefits, immigration, and the filing of joint tax returns.

Section 3 of DOMA was found unconstitutional in eight federal courts, including the First and Second Circuit Court of Appeals, on issues including bankruptcy, public employee benefits, estate taxes, and immigration. The U.S. Supreme Court in United States v. Windsor declared Section 3 of DOMA unconstitutional on June 26, 2013, “as a deprivation of the equal liberty of persons that is protected by the Fifth Amendment.” [ Wikipedia → ]

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Two more GOP lawmakers have signed on as co-sponsors of the Respect for Marriage Act, raising the total to four Republicans supporting a bill that would fully repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act. ...

Just over one year ago, Windsor v. United States became one of the most important court cases for the LGBT community. Since then, every one of more than a dozen court cases striking down same-sex marriage bans has used the ...

One year ago, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a pair of landmark rulings, one striking down the statute that denied federal recognition to same-sex marriages and the other clearing the way for gay couples to wed legally in California. In ...

One year ago, Windsor v. United States became one of the most important court cases for the LGBT community. Since then, every single one of the 15 court cases striking down same-sex marriage bans has used the Windsor decision at ...

June 26 is the most historic date on the LGBT civil rights movement’s calendar. It is the day in 2003 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could not enforce laws prohibiting same-sex adults from having intimate relations. It ...

DENVER -- A federal appeals court ruled for the first time Wednesday that gay couples have a constitutional right to marry, extending the movement's legal winning streak and bringing the issue a big step closer to the U.S. Supreme Court. ...

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Mark Udall (D-Colo.) on Thursday introduced a bill to provide married, same-sex couples with equal treatment under the Social Security Act when applying for Social Security benefits, regardless of where they reside.
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WASHINGTON -- Casting Barack Obama as a president run amok, the House voted on Wednesday for a bill that would expedite congressional lawsuits against the chief executive for failure to enforce federal laws. ...

WASHINGTON -- In an assertion of same-sex marriage rights, Attorney General Eric Holder is applying a landmark Supreme Court ruling to the Justice Department, announcing Saturday that same-sex spouses cannot be compelled to testify against each other, should be eligible ...